KOZELJNIK interview

Hails Kozeljnik! You are mostly known as the guitarist and mastermind behind The Stone and May Result for many years now. When, how and why you decided to create this solo project of yours?
L.G.: This is full-time band Kozeljnik and L.G. started doing few years ago. An idea itself differs from what the two of us are doing in our other bands. Half of the lyrics and some music for debut album were written even before the whole thing began to unfold. It's more personal thing than any of the mentioned. Expect a lot of things to shape from this.



What does Kozeljnik mean and why did you choose this name?
L.G.: It's a Name for ancient divinatory that once lived along the east European soil, though mostly where Serbia lies nowadays. They predicted human destiny by observing the entrails of the dead goats. Has a rather prophetic note to it and is ancient as hell. So is our message.


In 2007 you released the Wrecked in Ruins of Solitude EP and a year later your debut full length Sigil Rust. Can you describe both with your words and tell us what do you think are the main differences between the first and second release? Tell us when were the songs written and when recorded. What label released it and where can we get a copy of each? How do you think the album was received and are you still satisfied with it in 2010?
L.G.: Well, this EP was released only on tape format so far, via Spiritual WarArt Productions from Turkey, though some copies have errors concerning the sound (made by label itself). It also included rehearsal version of some tunes later found on our debut "Sigil Rust". Later, we've made this contract with Diabolist Services from Washington NJ and are expecting another release of this recording on 7" gatefold vinyl. Sure, our sound went much farther lately when compared to the one we had on this EP, but it still sounds very strong and obscure and we're definitely proud of it. "Sigil Rust", released in '08, was a step forth at the moment and is a debut we couldn't be more pleased to have. 5 of our songs (+ cover of Dodheimsgard) played in mid-paced to fast sections, with cold and brutal message to it and a true mark of Kozeljnik scarred for years to come. Next material will be a surprise on its own and should be out in couple of months, so I won't say much at the moment.


What is the main theme in your lyrics? Does Kozeljnik stand behind any specific philosophy? The Stone are known for their use of Serbian language on every record, however for Kozeljnik you decided to use English. How come?
L.G.: We wrote our first lyrics in English, don't know why, but it came somehow natural to us. Further on, when we discovered the actual sound of those tunes on our first rehearsals, we simply chose to go with that from then on. We won't avoid the use of our mother-tongue if it comes along the way, neither. Our lyrics are the presentation of one's hidden psyche, the one that is ever-endeavoring in seeking the path to the utter Black, the one that invocates the Upheaval of diabolic sphere, in darkness and light omnipresent. Final and complete reversal of the Known.



What is the cover art on Sigil Rust representing?
L.G.: It marks the Root, present-thereafter and NEVERENDING: for those who are willing to Observe. Old and ever-growing seed of the True Beneath, Devil's all-consuming breath to embrace all flesh and thought.


Should be Kozeljnik treated like a real band or is it just a project for you?
L.G.: This is dead serious full-time band.


Can Black metal exist outside of Satanism? What is your opinion? Can acts of Black Metal exist only in music or does its meaning manifest beyond Black Metal's music, ideology and image?
L.G.: It's individual enough to get out of any common and typical way of thinking, behaving, reasoning and in the end: living the Thing. In certain cases, it will leave the mark for as long as our culture goes, sometimes it simply disappears after the Thought. This is extremely individual and not many of those (supposedly involved with this extremity) have the gift to Create and Convince. Many of them have even been active for too long and one day simply left everything behind as nothing ever happened. The term you used in your first question is not really embraced by many or is being simulated to fill the needs of the very moment they are found in. Kozeljnik in S.A.T.A.N. breathes this guidance that voids all things of the obvious, material and orthodox... a path that leads our inner thought towards the time's oblivion and reversal of this current. Where darkness spreads with aura in all ways, desolate, continuous and never-ending.



Underground... Is it only an empty phrase or does it really exists in your opinion?
L.G.: It actually meant something couple of decades ago, but nowadays it doesn't get much farther from being a common simple phrase.



What are your future plans? Can we expect the follow up to your debut full length?
L.G.: Final mixing of the 6 new tracks for our second full-length album "Deeper the Fall" is being done as we speak. In December '09 we agreed this release with Paragon Records from New York. They've been very cooperative and I think the album will be released in June this year. If your way gets you anywhere near Berlin (Germany) this summer, don't miss our performance on Under the Black Sun Festival in July. The sound of the album will be a bit of the surprise, diverse, innovative and tasty, but I won't reveal anything about it yet.

This concludes the interview. Any last words?
L.G.: Thanks for doing the interview, we appreciate it a lot. Our web design is still in progress, but will be done soon with completely new look. All the news will be posted there, as well as all the vital information about the band, lyrics, samples of our works etc. I encourage all to check our future "Deeper the Fall" album (out in June).

SAMOMOR interview

When, why and how was Samomor created? Who are the persons behind this name? Is this your first venture in the underground or were members of Samomor previously in other bands?

Samomor started at the end of 2008, although there were some thoughts and (intoxicated) rehearsals years before. Priorities had to be set and finally the self destruction could begin in a proper way. There are no names at all! This elite project has to be known for its music and its messages rather than the mortals hidden behind it.

It's not long since your first release saw the disgusting light of the day. We are talking about the Somnus Stellae EP. When was the EP recorded and what have been the reactions so far. Are you satisfied with the result?

This EP was just an egocentric necessity to see the physical reproduction of what has been created so far after few rehearsals. The whole thing was produced in September 2009 and it came out exactly the way it was ment to be, therefore I am very pleased with it. The rest is totally insignificant.


Which label released it and how can people get a copy of it?

Somnus Stellae was self-recorded and self-financed by creating our own label, which is a genuine start to realize everything without any compromise. Mankind can get it through local distributors or should write directly to Samomor.


Does Samomor stand behind any specific philosophy? What is the main theme in your lyrics? Is there a red line or a concept running through the lyrics on Somnus Stellae? Is there a message you would like to deliver?

Samomor praises solitude, misanthropy and death which are the only possibility to deepen yourself into your miserable existence and finally fulfill it. Somnus Stellae is mainly about Lucifer’s fall and His coming Rise, yet the message is incorporated in other thoughts I share in the lyrics. We must all die to see Him gloriously arise again!


Does any member of the band participate in any other project beside Samomor?

Everyone who is or was involved with Samomor played and still plays in more or less renowned bands/projects which are not worthy to be mentioned here.

The packaging of the EP is really good looking but does not hold a lot of information. Where can people find out more about the band?

What you hold in your hands contains enough information someone needs to know at the moment. Everything should be unveiled at the right time. Still I believe the message and the music are more important than the force that creates them.


Can Black metal exist outside of Satanism? What is your opinion?

I believe Black metal is strictly related to Satanism for it is one of its creative expressions to spread His name. Everything else without a satanic essence can be described however you want it but not as Black metal. No servant can truly serve more than one Master!


When does man's life end? Is death the final thing or do you believe in life after death?

Life is just a limited amount of time we are given to manage our will.


What does the following mean to you: DEATH – end of an enjoyable game
MISANTHROPY – individual supremacy over mass-ignorance
BLACK METAL – a creative way to spread Satan's presence
SUICIDE – fulfilment of the Self
EVIL – just a silly christian word used to describe what is against their expectations
GOD – a meaningless force which loses power and should have no followers at all
SATAN – the One who will unmask the deception

What does the future hold for Samomor? New releases? Live gigs? Merchandise?

There is no need to play live at the moment, yet this will not stop the existence nor the creativeness of Samomor. A powerful split LP should strike at weak ears very soon and maybe some shirts will be printed…thus you will be able to show how much you love and enjoy life.


Okay that’s it. Please close this interview with telling us where can people get your merchandise, how can they contact you? You can also send death treats to whoever you want, the final words are yours.

somnusstellae@gmail.com and life shall be no more!

MGLA - Presence

Let me ask you this… If you would combine Darkthrone and Deathspell Omega, what would you get? Most of you will say: »Old works of Deathspell Omega.« Well, no. For old works of Deathspell Omega WERE in fact Darkthrone. But what will follow now, is something quite new.

Mgła's EP entitled PRESENCE was released through Northern Heritage in 2006. And it is in fact a so called crossbreed betwen the bands that are mentioned above. Yet M., who is the man behind Mgła, takes it to a whole new level. All three songs that this EP contains are named Presence I, II and III (Draco Sit Mihi Dux, anyone?). The beginning starts simple. Guitar chords with bass drum. Nothing special one would think. But at 0:57 seconds in, a long tremolo riff kicks in and sets the right mood. The vocals start to blaspheme ears of the listener with it's rotten vocals about fall of man, as the EP cover shows. With great riffs and all types of drumming the song progresses into the second part. This one is the quite opposition of the first song in the beginning. It is a straight-forward agressive start with blastbeats. Though nothing much changes. It is hard to write about the impact that this short but strong EP makes on the listener. The most simple way is to roughly describe it with the first verses of Presence III:

Follow the wounds,
enter the self-inflicted gateway
Let the Devil come through

It is always great to see a band to release material and always keep the hype at the same high level. Especially if that particular band stays loyal to the bit of Black Metal.

GRIGORI - Principivm et finis

In the name of our Lord, hails from New Zeland the mastermind Armaros of Grigori with his debut album PRINCIPVM ET FINIS, released in 2009 via Satanic Propaganda Records. After I first heard of this one-man band in 2007, I was very impressed with the material I heard in Grigori's first demo and after I heard first songs from this upcoming full-lenght album, I was anxious to get my hands on it as soon as possible.

Naturally, I was very open-minded and full of expectations when I first listened to this album. The first thing that comes surprising is the fact that this album dwells between two dimensions of melancholy and agression. The first psalm Litania I – Pestis begins with melancholical vibes that last almost six minutes. It bears everything one should expect: choirs singing and strange sounds in the back. Then slowly but suddenly, the guitars take over the melancholy with it's slow tempo. Towards the end, praises to Satan are spoken in Latin, which is the prophecy of the upcoming attrocities. The melancholy continues shortly into the second psalm Yours Are The Words That Resonate In These Halls. Soon, an interesting thing occurs – the guitars burst in unexpectingly with all it's sheer terror and accompanied with heavy drumming that now announce the aggressive parts. But only for a short time as it stops, only to burst out again. And as it appears, so it dissapears again to return to slower parts. What now could already be figured out, is that PRINCIPVM ET FINIS relies alot on melancholic ambience, but still is far away to be called Ambient Black Metal (or whatever). Let it also be known, that slower parts are not just basic drum rhythms, accompanied only with guitar chords. In second song, towards the end, these parts are filled with guitar harmonies that on moments remind me of Dissection (except this here is actually Black Metal unlike…). Another thing to mention, is that there can also be found acoustic parts – like in the third song Liberatio – Ars Moriendi. While I'm not particulary a fan of acoustic parts, they fit here extremely well. Especially when they are taken over by a distorted guitar. One last thing I must mention is a particular riff, that comes towards the end of the song Amongst The Pillar Of Fire And Ash. It is very memorable and very similiar to the opus of Glorior Belli; whilst they always have on their album a particular riff that is the most memorable (songs O Laudate Dominvs and Manifesting The Raging Beast). The only flaw I have with this album is the lack of tremolo riffs, but in the end this is just my humble opinion.

Grigori may be from a place no one would dare to think that Black Metal exists there… We were just proven otherwise.

NEKRIST - Slava Satan

Rarely these days you find a demo that makes a huge impact on you right after the first listening. And after that the more you listen, the more it grows on you. One of such demos is the demo from Croatian horde Nekrist with their self-released demo SLAVA SATAN from 2007.

The Demo SLAVA SATAN starts with a simplistic intro The March To Battle. Exactly that what it is entitled – a war march song. Starts with a snare drumming and soon after guitars shred your ears apart. It immidiately grants you the vision of thousands of corpslike warriors marching towards their ultimate goal – to destroy humanity. The next song is Slava Satan with a real ''in your face'' riff. As the song progresses it really gives you a feeling of how Black Metal should sound like for it already has all the important implements. Good old-school production sound, blasting drumming, agressive vocals, shredding guitars,… The next songs Lord Of Silence And Strenght begins with a majectic fast drumming that reminds you on the drum solo of Funeral Mist's song The God Supreme. Filled with memorable riffs it pleasures listener's ears in desecration. It is significant to mention the vocals, or should I rather say, beastial shrieks. An excellent effort made by the vocalist Kletvenik. Fourth song is Rog U Krvi (transl. Horn In Blood). Nothing special to mention, but a great song nevertheless. The last one (that is also my favourite on demo) is Orthodox Misanthropy. The song really lives up to it's title's name. Reeked with sheer violence it really makes you want to load up your shot-gun and go postal upon others and yourself, thus ending up either on evening news or Dawn Of The Black Hearts vol. 2 cover. Overall the songs vary one from another and keeping listener concentrated the entire time in this short, but bitter 20 minute demo.

Nekrist… We await your next raise of Goblet of Death for Satan!

ARS GOETIA interview

Greetings Helnath! Please tell me when, how and why was Ars Goetia formed?
The band was founded in August 2006 when I met Vindvalr. Our idea was to give concrete
form of our visceral passion for black metal. He is a complete musician and had a lot of
material ready. Later we met Ares and then Dron, so the band actually had a beginning.

What does Ars Goetia mean and why you choose this name?
Goetia refers to a practice which includes the the evocation of demons. I have always been
fascinated by ancient rituals, and so at some point I decided to find out more. The name was
chosen because it was the one that best reconcile our interests and our idea of music.

Prior to your full length album you released the Compassion Lead to Weakness demo.
How was the demo received? Are there still some copies of it available?
All I can say is that thanks to that demo we have reach the attention of Funeral Moonlight
Productions and they printed our first album. I do not think there are still copies
available..anyway we are not very happy with those recordings but still are the testimonies of
our first songs.

Shortly after the demo you recorded your first album Anachoreta. Tell us when were the songs written and when recorded. What label released it and where can we get a copy of Anachoreta? How do you think the album was received and are you still satisfied with it now that almost 2 years passed since the release?
Anachoreta contains all songs that we composed in the first year of life of the band, the music
were composed mainly in our rehearsal room and recorded in a small studio in Padua. We
have still a few copies and of course you can order directly from us
(goetiabm[AT]gmail[DOT]com) or from the label (Funeral Moonlight Productions). We
received a few compliments and it really made us very glad, we're still satisfied and we still
like playing songs from that record but Anachoreta was a snapshot of that moment, we are
looking forward to the next album.

What are the lyrics of the songs dealing with?
The lyrics are mainly focused on the occult and a sort of initiation practices to which our
name refers. There is also a song concerning the scorn and one about the premonition of
extinction. I am very proud of my work but I don't want to share them with anyone except
other band members.

Tell us about your way in music. Do you feel any limitation in your style, in any
conception? Do you see any possible progress, of movement forward?
[by Vindvalr] Well, it's not about limitation. I write a lot of music but I know when something
can work with Ars Goetia, if it doesn't work I can use it with Candleshadow if it fits well,
otherwise I trash it or put it aside for the fututre. I don't feel limitations in writing music. It's
important to think about your band, not about genres. There are thousands of bands for each
genre but ideally there's no­one like your band.

Are you satisfied with the work and promotion done by Funeral Moonlight
Productions ?
Absolutely! A very professional and widespread distribution work. Obviously this is a small
label, but for us was more than good. Unfortunately we are unable to contact them because they haven't answered our mails for months, can't understand why but we need to go beyond
this so we found the Aphelion Productions.

Recently you announced a forthcoming split CD with Old Bones from Sweden. Can you tell more about it please?
Yes, will be available after the summer from Aphelion Productions in CD format, strictly
limited in 666 copies. Old Bones (previously known as Mordigrim) is a black metal band,
damn good and very raw! Each Band has three brand new songs. Our goal was to give a very
little preview of the upcoming album although is still not complete.

I’ve noticed that you are quite an active band live wise. Do you think there is a place and interest for such an underground and raw band as Ars Goetia in Italy? Can you tell us something about the black metal scene in Italy? Any other bands worth mentioning?
Our songs are very suitable to play live, and when we make a new one we assume that we
have to play it on stage. We did shows with some of the best Italian bands and for sure in the
next future we will play again. Here in italy black metal has something special and distinctive
but is not properly a scene in my opinion. Anyway I like many italian bands, it's useless make
a list...just listen to some good music and fuck the trends!

Do you think that an image of a musician is a basic element of the atmosphere? Is your image of great importance to you?
The image is the 30% of the atmosphere, the rest is taken by the music itself. Anyway a good
show is necessary to elevate the music to another level and the image is obviously a big part
of that. We can say that the image is important but our main focus is on the music.
What inspires you to write such kind of music?
The occult and black metal have always been my main interest, is something quite instinctive.
It would be nice play also something else a little different, I do not listen to black metal all
day long, but would not have the same importance of Ars Goetia. Is not just a vent, it's
something I must do, something that accompanies my life.

Can Black metal exist outside of Satanism? What is your opinion?
Black metal is closely linked and developed with anti­religious ideology, and this is my
reality. Luckily I grow up without any catholic imposition so I find out natural have a wide
view of what Satan can represent. I am firmly convinced that our knowledge is what feeds our
souls and beliefs. I can't imagine myself in a pagan black metal band but I respect those who
bring this ideology on.

Does any member of the band participate in any other project beside Ars Goetia?
Vindvalr is the mind behind the one man band called Candleshadow. I like a lot his black
metal with ambient influences. Ares works behind Phantazo and also Rogna. Phantazo is
industrial stunning black metal, very dark and obsessive and Rogna is black metal with a
negative and depressive view of life but now is no longer active. My advice is to listen to
some of this stuff!

What are your future plans? Beside the split CD?
We're working on our second full­length, it's our main interest at the moment. After that
probably we will do some gigs. We all feel very inspired for what will be on the next album
and we have some really killer songs! Dron has improved a lot with drums and each of us has
something very interesting to say in the next album, so stay tuned...

Okay that’s it. Please close this interview with telling us where people can get your
merchandise, how can they contact you? You can also now send death treats to whoever you want, the final words are yours.
For now we don't have any merchandise, probably after the upcoming album will do
something about it. For any question, booking or info write at
goetiabm[AT]gamail[DOT]com or visit our myspace site (myspace.com/goetia).
“When you don't have this, dying and becoming, you're only a sad guest, on the dark earth”

HERESI - Psalm I

As a friend of mine once introduced me to Heresi he told me: "So it should be played and so it should sound like." And he was fucking right. Heresi's PSALM I offers us three blasphemous songs that will crawl under your skin as soon as you start listening to it.

Skamfer, the figure behind this one-man band called Heresi, was once one of the early members of the Swedish legends Ondskapt and as far as I can tell, he was mainly responsible for Ondskapt's first release. The music on PSALM I resembles that release very much. PSALM I begins with a slow tremolo riff on the song Civitate Dei and with pounding drums from Hell, soon accompanied with deep and powerful vocals that sing about utmost Devil worship and evil. Production on this is very powerful. The EP continues with Deus Absconditus which has really something "hidden" inside it. It begins with slow and basic drumming, giving listener an empty feeling that is soon filled with a guitars. Not so much tremolo in it, but it gives the same impression as the first song. The third song Efter Själens Stympning goes in a different pattern - bearing blast-beats. The tremolo riffs are still present though. Towards the second half of the song, it returns to slower parts again and ends with a fade-out.

In the year 2005, Total Holocaust Records made a wise decision to release this masterpiece of Swedish Black Metal. The vein of Heresi is spreaded also through it's second release PSALM II - INFUSCO IGNIS, which is also a masterpiece. Awaiting more of Heresi's music of uncreation...

CHALICE OF BLOOD - Angelus Diaboli

Angelus Diaboli

From Darkness Sent

Prayers Through Blood

Black Sacrifice...

These are but few verses from this short, but bitter and foul demo ANGELUS DIABOLI from the relatively (yet) unknown Swedish band Chalice Of Blood.

From 2005, released through Satanic Propaganda Records, ANGELUS DIABOLI contains of three songs: Speak Through Me, Black Cleansing, Angelus Diaboli. In it's utmost raw production, the demo starts with no intro, but with direct riff that monotonously continues through the entire first song with a small break towards the end. I mentioned the word "monotonously" in the previous sentence and this is exatcly what this demo has over the majority of all three songs - they are based upon one riff only that repeats itself over and over again. But unlike bands that like to perform that (i.e. Judas Iscariot on Thy Dying Light, where you sooner or later grow tired of it), Chalice Of Blood maintain to hold the listener through the entire demo. The lyrics are primitive. One might say: "Oh, this is something a 13 year old can write..." Not in this case. It clearly shows that Chalice Of Blood worship the Devil and thus, they do not need to explain rationally or irationally themselves any further.

ANGELUS DIABOLI is a good start for Chalice Of Blood with delivering the disgust of existence upon all. Who knows... One day their pillar might even stand among other Swedish Black Metal pillars like Salvation, Casus Luciferi, Mystérion Tés Anomias,...

Angelus Diaboli!

Bringers Of Plague...

EMPALIGON - Black Dominated Annihilation

When it comes to German Black Metal, the majority thinks of bands such as Katharsis, Secrets Of The Moon, Darkened Nocturn Slaughtercult, Kapein,... Empaligon are on one hand one of those underrated Black Metal acts from Germany. Of course they are not that widely known but their full-lenght album BLACK DOMINATED ANNIHILATION has it's mark in German Black Metal movement nevertheless.

When you first listen to this specific full-lenght album you will definately think of Infernal War at first or maybe Funeris Nocturnum's debut album for that matter. BLACK DOMINATED ANNIHILATION, released in 1999 via Metal Age Records, consist of nine songs that reek of speed. Definately something to unleash your anger. Rarely it slows down to slow parts. Mostly it is filled with fast blast-beats and tremolo picked riffs. Interesting thing to point out are the vocals - shrieks that resemble on cursings of an old witch. Though not to be compared to the first two Behexen albums. Of course after songs mostly have the same formula and this might get the listener to loose his concentration on the listening. There is not much variety, but overall the album speaks for itself. The only song that really differs is the song before the last one - Lakes Of Lava. It is slower than other songs and on drumming consists most of basic rythm. But since it is placed towards the end it does not make that much difference. The highlights of the album are definately the following. The first song Blackterror Of War that begins with a short intro of a siren (taken from Sid Meier's Civilization II) announcing nuclear bombing and as soon as we hear the explosion the song kicks in with Empaligon's trademark music - fast, raw and uncompromising. The second highlighting song is Infernal Shadow - the third track of the album. In the same vein as the song mentioned before, but definetely one that as its finished, you'll want to hear it again. The production wholewide is generic Black Metal-like. Hardly worthy to mention since the entire genre is stagnated. But do we really give a fuck about that?

BLACK DOMINATED ANNIHILATION is an album that you really enjoy listening once in a while. Never constantly or you might get sooner or later tired of it. It is a solid Black Metal album and should definitely be praised.

PSEUDOGOD - Illusion of Salvation

In America, you spit on pseudo god. In "Soviet" Russia, Pseudogod spits on you. And not only with saliva, but also with it's first gruesome demo ILLUSION OF SALVATION. Since I personaly never was into Russian Black Metal, due to the fact that every band I heard of from there, fills Black Metal with NS, nationalism, pagan pride and similiar shit. So this recently discovered band was a real "venomous" antidote for my opinion.

Pseudogod's ILLUSION OF SALVATION, released in 2006 via Satanic Propaganda Records, consist of three nails that pierce through hands and feet of man. First song, O Luserp Sitativic, is an intro over one minute long, consisting of female choir sang bacwards. One might think that this is a cliché way to start, but it fits the ambient and the following desecration of other two songs perfectly. As soon as the intro fades out, the second song Bleeding With Pus Of Black Plague executes exactly that, what the first verses of the song are:

I came out of gloom

And crushed your hopes...

It blasts through in the vein of old-school Black Metal we are used to. Seven minutes of pure desecration to one's ears, makes the listener really hate himself and everything around. The thing most worth mentioning here is that bass guitar is heard, which is something very rare in Black Metal. Therefore it is good to see that Pseudogod treat all it's parts equally. From blasting drums, over raw guitars, to carcinogenic vocals. The production is not cristal clear, though; but raw and a bit muffled. Again, the way we are used to in Black Metal. The third and final song is Illusion Of Salvation. In the same vein as the song before, it speaks of the unworthy messiah failing at his attempts to die for sins of man. The ending of the song and demo is instant, giving the listener the desire to hear more.

Pseudogod is currently one of the most promising Black Metal acts to hail from Russia. Fanatics of raw and primitive Black Metal, be sure to pick this demo up, as well as their split with Blaze Of Perdition. And as Pseudogod state themselves...

The God gave to man a life, but PSEUDOGOD has destroyed all beliefs about life and has conquered flesh!

Keep destroying and conquering!

KATHARSIS - Fourth Reich

Many people thought that after the release of VVORLDVVITHOUTEND, the German cult known as Katharsis will split-up. The reason for such thoughts was due to their three full lenght album releases with each containing 6 tracks - so to speak 3 x 6 = 6 6 6.

We were wrong...

In the year 2009, released through French label Norma Evangelium Diaboli, the fourth full-lenght album was released entiteled FOURTH REICH - a bit decieving album title, but then again, remember the "14 words" on KRUZIFIXXION. The album itself in general is to some degree different, yet still same in the vein of Katharsis' music. As usual, the first song So Nails The Heart... Nails you straight to the heart with it's direct agressiveness - no delays, no teasing. Thus showing the listener that there will be nothing positive and joyfull to expect. Though not as agressive and oppressive as VVORLDVVITHOUTEND, it still creates the same ambient. Towards the end of this first track one can also hear,although muffled and very silent, clean vocals. Quite unexpected. The album continues with their second out of five songs called Eucharistick Funeral, another more than 10 minutes long song. Consisting the same combination of fast-paced and mid-tempo, it holds the listener in the same atmosphere as the beginning. Though the variety of different riffs so far is not big, the both songs are not monotonous. One who listenes to the album might ask himself at the end of the second track: "What the fuck have I just listened to?" But this should not be considered as a bad thing. Breaking into the third track Reckoning, the awakening of the listener begins with a guitar intro, which is followed by blasting drums. This 7-minuted piece of a bit avantgarde, yet still pure Black Metal riffs, works as a surprise to what is coming next. Emeralde Graves is something that at first may not be expected. It is a keyboard based ambient track that streches through five minutes and gives the listener that cosmic feeling, leading into transcendence. Sort of a relief from the agression from before. As expected, the final track, Sinn Koronation, begins with a mid-tempo paced beginning, that slows down as vocals enter the song and continues that way through the first half of the song, being the slowest material that Katharsis have offered us. The second half breaks this slowness with a fast part and agressivness that has been shown in the beginning of the album. Following this pattern for somewhere two minutes, then enters the guitar solo (by D. Wolfram from the band Orlog) that resembles the solo found on Glorior Belli's song Altered Verses. As the solo is finished, the song returns to the slow parts, before ending with guitar chords and choir singing.

Overall... As mentioned before, different and yet still the same. Definetly worthy of Katharsis' name, though maybe not accepted by fans after the very first listen. But as time and number of listenings passess, the album is bound to grow on you.

DEATHROW interview

Hails Thorns! You are mostly known as a drummer in the underground circles for many years now, contributing your talent to countless projects in the studio and in live situations. However through the years it seems your main bands were Handful of Hate and Frostmoon Eclipse where you contribute besides the drums also with vocals and as a lyricist. When was the idea of forming your solo one-man band born and especially why?
Well, it’s difficult for me to explain but it’s like to complete a sort of development. I’m always been a drummer and played with lots of bands but for one time I just wanted been a composer and trying to write down my ideas. To be honest I’m working on some composition since 1997 but never had the chance to work on it properly because of the time and the lack of the right instruments. Finally at the end of 2005 I had the chance to have what I needed and so I decided to give me a chance. Anyway the reason was not just to prove myself something but also to give my ideas a proper form and way to expression.

Deathrow already released two albums. Can you describe both with your words and tell us what do you think are the main differences between the first and second record?
I can say that even if Deathrow is just a 3 years old creature, I started recording ideas and stuff around 10-11 years ago… so all the releases out since now are the result of an hard work of assembling riffs and give birth to songs that have finally got the point. In fact the demo, first and second albums are born at the same time when I finally found the way to put all together… I had something like 2 hours of stuff to divide under 2-3 releases and start to looking around for labels interested to print my stuff. I recorded the demo putting inside of it 3 various songs to give the listener a good point of view to start with and I send to Iso666, the greek label that released all my Frostmoon Eclipse’s albums. The response has been great and so I got the chance to release the first album. I decided to divide typical Black-Metal songs to the slow ones just to make 2 different albums instead of getting two hybrids. So “Primordial Lifecode” is my first album just by words because some songs are newer than some you can find in “Gatweays To Oblivion”, that is my second album on paper. In the meantime I also released a split tape of ambient stuff I had for another project back in 1997 that never saw the light and I also released an EP with strange noise/industrial/chaotic songs that were for another project too. Basically for all those stuff would have been stupid to release it under thousand different names while the mind behind it was always the same. Of course I preferred to keep them as split or EP just to don’t make people think that Deathrow could turn the sound towards those different approaches. Deathrow is Black-Metal, but of course I like also “to play” with other kind of dark and hypnotic kind of music that in some way or another are a part of me. Anyway to answer to the second part of your question, well, yes, I’m a very prolific writer… and I don’t know why. I just know that all the time I keep a guitar on and start to play I found some interesting riffs and record some songs… I have a new album ready to record (1 hour of stuff), some songs for a pair of split EP’s and various other songs still to finish… This is the reason why I try to play the less then possible.

What is the main theme in your lyrics? Does Deathrow stand behind any specific philosophy?
Well, I’m obsessed by death and bones… I’m not afraid but death is the end of everything, so I tried to talk about it in different ways trying not to be easy and superficial as many do.


You also recorded an EP with just ambient music. Why this move? It was just a spontaneous thing or are you planning more releases in that specific field?
Nothing is planned with Deathrow because it’s just me. I’ve always played some keyboards creating some ambient passages but of course always remained unreleased, so I decided to put them on one single split tape with a band similar to mine and release it. I’m not sure to write new stuff this way but Deathrow is a quite spontaneous band so we never know.
Although Deathrow is consisting of only one member doing everything, you recently played your first live shows with session musicians. Why you decided to perform also as a live band? How do you feel about the concerts you played so far? Can you tell us who the musicians you use for these rituals are?
Well, of course just a few around know that I’m a singer before to be a drummer… I was singing before to start drumming so to sing has always been a dream to me because I never had a band to do that in a good way. I always performed vocals in studio for Frostmoon Eclipse and backing vocals for other bands but I was missing to have something mine 100%. So after some strict friends of mine told e that the Deathrow stuff would have been great to be played live I decided to have a try. I played the first 2 shows as drummer/vocalist but I finally have a drummer now so I can concentrate just on vocals as I was dreaming since 1995-1996. I did 2 shows as vocalist and they have been really important for me, something that I was waiting from 10 years. The shows have been great and people got the good vibes and understood the right feeling. The musicians that are helping me are: Beast (guitar)from Frostmoon Eclipse, Moerke (guitar) from Vidharr, Gore (bass) ex Handful Of Hate and Redrum (drums) from Vesper. All cool and talented guys.

Do you think that an image of a musician is a basic element of the atmosphere? Is your image of great importance to you?
Sure, for me image in Black-Metal is 50% of the work. If a band has great songs but a very poor image and content is totally a waste of time and efforts. Try to imagine a band like Deathspell Omega for example, one day you see them live for the first time and they come on stage with Bermudas, baseball hats and coloured shirts.. They would waste years of a good image and reputation. I think that Black-Metal is the only genre in which image goes together with the music, it sounds weird because we’re talking about music and just of music we should be judge for but Black Metal is not like this. Deathrow is a Black-Metal band, we’re not talking of happy stuff, we’re trying to evoking the worst of us, the deepest bad feelings that make us feel sick and distant from the modern society… we shouldn’t seem part of this world in any case.
What are your future plans? Is the 3rd album already on its way?
Yes, it’s ready since last year… it will be slow and heavy… very dark and depressive. I focused on some tape edition and a split 7” lately, as well as live shows so I haven’t had the time to record it but I’m not in a hurry, I think I’m going to record it during next winter. I’m organizing some new shows actually and I’m planning some other small releases before a new album.
What about your other projects? Which are the bands you are in right now as a permanent and session member? What can we expect from it? Which of these bands is your priority?
I have no priorities, each band need its time and efforts. I love to play different kind of Black Metal and to travel, visit new places, meet intelligent and easy, grounded people.. this is basically my life. I’m actually playing with Frostmoon Eclipse, Kult, Nocratai, Macabre Omen (Gre) and Deathrow.. plus another pair of bands that it’s better don’t reveal for various reasons. I’ve been session musicians for bands like Nocternity (Gre), Melencolia Estatica, Antares Predator (Nor), Arcana Coeleastia, Tundra, Aptorian Demon (Nor) and Obscure Devotion. I’m not a member but I help to play live also Hiems (solo project of Forgotten Tomb bass player) and I played in Handful Of Hate for 8 years, recording 3 albums and various ep. I recorded more than 15 albums and played more than 200 shows in my life. I’m actually working on the new Frostmoon Eclipse and Kult albums as well as organizing various shows and tours. I’m quite active as always.

Okay that’s it. Please close this interview with telling us where can people get your merchandise, how can they contact you? You can also send death treats to whoever you want, the final words are yours.
I’m 31 this year, I’m a bit old for death treats but anyway who needs info, merchandise or whatever can contact me at: frostmooneclipse@libero.it or visit my pages here:
www.frostmooneclipse.com
www.myspace.com/frostmooneclipse
www.myspace.com/deathrowblackmetal
www.myspace.com/theendkult
Thanx for your time and support.